Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred was bullish on two potential additions to the sport: Las Vegas as destination for a franchise and former New York Yankees great Derek Jeter as an owner.

Computers calling balls and strikes? Manfred told those who attended the Associated Press Sports Editors’ meetings at MLB headquarters in New York on Thursday that automated umpires remain years off.

While baseball was rocked by the Pete Rose gambling scandal that saw the game’s all-time hit king get banned from the sport nearly three decades ago, Manfred didn’t seem overly concerned with the fact Nevada offers legalized sports gambling.

“I think now that we have seen two professional sports go there, the while issue of the presence of gambling is more than people have gotten past,” Manfred said Thursday. “You can gamble anywhere (illegally). It’s not just in Las Vegas. So, from that perspective, I’m open to it. We are going to see what happens.”

The Vegas Golden Knights begin play this year as the NHL becomes the first major sport to be based in the gambling mecca and the Oakland Raiders could begin play in Las Vegas as early as 2019.

“Given the way things have shake out, we have the advantage of seeing what happens in terms of the market and what other issues will be raised,” Manfred said when asked if Las Vegas’ offerings could pose problems for franchises based there.

Manfred said it’s more likely a team would relocate to the Las Vegas versus as an expansion franchise location. The Tampa Bay Rays and Oakland Athletics are the only major league teams actively seeking replacement venues for their older stadiums.

“Until Tampa and Oakland are resolved, I don’t see us expanding as a practical matter. It could be an expansion or relocation site,” Manfred said. “I understand the demographics and it could work, based on the size of the city.”

In 2016, the Rays received permission from the St. Petersburg city council to explore stadium options within the Tampa area but outside of St. Petersburg, site of Tropicana Field.

The Rays' lease there expires in 2027, and the franchise faces several hurdles to determine a viable stadium site palatable to fans in both Pinellas and Hillsborough counties.

The A’s situation may gain clarity sooner.

Las Vegas did Oakland something of a favor by luring the Raiders to a new $2 billion stadium in the desert. With the Warriors relocating to San Francisco by 2020, the A's remain the clear target for the city to retain. Yet, site and financing issues will complicate the process there, as well, although the A's won't face as many location logistics as the Rays.

It was reported earlier this week that Jeter and former Florida governor and Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush comprise one group interesting in purchasing the Miami Marlins.

“I’ve talked to Derek privately about his desire to be an owner,” Manfred said. “I think the idea of a former player being an owner is an appealing one for baseball, particularly a player like Derek. It would bring diversity to our ownership group. That would be a good thing.”

Quogue Capital founder Wayne P. Rothbaum is also among the current bidders, and it's conceivable his assets may outflank those of the Bush-Jeter group.

“What I would say is some really good, high-quality groups interested in the Marlins,” Manfred said. “Certainly, the Bush-Jeter group would be among that group of appealing bidders.”

Umpiring issues in this high-definition era came to light once again Tuesday night, when a Washington Nationals-Atlanta Braves game was unnecessarily extended due to a bad call from home plate umpire C.B. Bucknor. He ruled a game-ending swinging strike three was actually a foul tip; replays indicated the batter missed the ball by several issues. Fortunately, the Nationals held on to win after both teams were summoned back to the playing field.

“The assertion that we are there from a technology perspective is incorrect at this point,” Manfred said. “It’s hard to argue against technology getting to a certain place given what we’ve seen over the last two decades. Soon or later, we are going to have technology that will be accurate and fast enough to call a computerized strike zone.

“At that point in time, we are going to have to answer a really fundamental question as to whether we want to change the game by removing the human element associated with a home plate umpire arguing balls and strikes. I don’t take that’s a frivolous decision. That’s something we are going to have to think hard about.”

May 22: Phillies catcher Jorge Alfaro leaps out of the way of Braves baserunner Ozzie Albies, who scored on a throwing error during the fifth inning at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia
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May 21: Washington Nationals left fielder Juan Soto is doused with water after the game against the San Diego Padres at Nationals Park. Soto hit his first career home run as the Nationals won, 10-2.
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May 18: Yankees left fielder Brett Gardner, left, catches the ball as he collides with center fielder Aaron Hicks in the second inning against the Royals at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
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May 16: Brewers players throw confetti on teammate Christian Yelich (22) in the dugout after his two-run home run in the second inning against the Diamondbacks at Chase Field.
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May 15: Fans watch as the grounds crew remove a tarp from the field as a rainbow emerges over Citi Field before a game between the New York Mets and the Toronto Blue Jays. The Mets won the game, 12-2.
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May 14: The Milwaukee Brewers' Tyler Saladino safely dives home in front of Arizona Diamondbacks catcher John Ryan Murphy for an inside-the-park home run in the ninth inning at Chase Field. The Brewers won the game, 7-2.
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May 11: Texas Rangers starting pitcher Cole Hamels delivers a pitch during the third inning against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. Hamels and three other pitchers combined to one-hit the Astros in a 1-0 win.
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May 7: George Springer (4) high fives teammates Max Stassi (12) and Josh Reddick after batting them in with a three-run home run against the Oakland Athletics during the second inning at Oakland Coliseum. Springer had a team-record six hits as the Astros won, 16-2.
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May 6: Yankees rookie Gleyber Torres is doused with Gatorade by his teammates after hitting a walk-off three-run home run to beat the Indians at Yankee Stadium in New York.
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April 27: Cleveland Browns first-round draft picks Denzel Ward, left, and Baker Mayfield, right, throw out the ceremonial first pitches before the Indians' home game against the Mariners at Progressive Field in Cleveland.
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April 26: White Sox third baseman Yolmer Sanchez warms up before a game against the Royals at Kauffman Stadium while wearing a shirt in tribute to teammate Danny Farquhar, who suffered a brain hemorrhage in the team's dugout on April 20.
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April 24: A Yankees security guard takes down a fan who ran onto the field during the seventh inning during the Yankees' game against Twins at Yankee Stadium in New York.
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April 23: Dogs walk on the field during Dog Day at Guaranteed Rate Field before a game between the Chicago White Sox and the Seattle Mariners. The White Sox won the game, 10-4.
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April 22: Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Jonathan Villar passes time in the dugout during a 4-2 win over the Miami Marlins at Miller Park. With the win, the Brewers completed a four-game sweep of the Marlins.
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April 19: The Phillies' Nick Williams, left, and J.P. Crawford celebrate in 1970's throwback jerseys during their game against the Pirates at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.
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April 11: The New York Yankees' Tyler Austin starts a scrum with Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Joe Kelly during the seventh inning at Fenway Park. The Yankees won the game, 10-7.
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April 5: St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Yairo Munoz (34) reacts after umpire Mike Muchlinski (76) called a strike during the second inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Busch Stadium.
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April 3: Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) rounds the bases after hitting a three-run home run in the first inning against the Cleveland Indians in his first ever regular season at bat at Angel Stadium of Anaheim.
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April 2: Cleveland Indians designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion rounds third base on an inside-the-park home run in the second inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. The Indians won the game, 6-0.
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April 1: The Los Angeles Angels' Shohei Ohtani makes his major-league debut as a starting pitcher in a 7-4 win over the Oakland Athletics at the Oakland Coliseum. Ohtani pitched six innings, gave up three runs, struck out six and got the win.
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March 31: Seattle Mariners center fielder Dee Gordon (9) watches a home run off the bat of the Cleveland Indians' Yan Gomes go over the wall during the fourth inning at Safeco Field. The Indians won the game, 6-5.
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March 29: Giancarlo Stanton (right) celebrates a two-run home run in the first inning with New York Yankees left fielder Brett Gardner. Stanton hit two home runs in his Yankees debut, and New York beat the Toronto Blue Jays, 6-1, on Opening Day at Rogers Centre.
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